Embalming and cooling board foe corpses



(N0 Modl.)

N. T. SHAW. EMBALMING AND COOLING BOARD FOR OORPSES. N0:.2 -6O, 380. v Patented'June 27., 1882,.

N. SETERS. Ph0|0-Lillwgm hcn Washington. D. c. v

UNITED STATES:

PATENT OFFICE.

NOAH T. SHAW, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO WILLIAM S. GARLILE AND JOHN C. SHERWOOD, OF SAME PLACE.

EMBALMING AND COOLING BOARD FOR CORPSES.

SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 260,330, dated June 27, 1882. Application filed August 17, 1851. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, NOAHTRIMBLE SHAW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Goluinbus, in the county of Franklinand State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Embalming and OoolingBoards, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is directed to the production of an improved folding embalming and cooling board. Myobject is'to render such article substantial, light, and neat, with provision for safety against accidental crushing ori'alling under the weightof the body and in shifting the position of the board, as is often required when the body is laid thereon. For this purpose automatic locking-braces serve to sustain the board atthefolding-joint, relieve the hinges of undue weight, and act as a double truss in bracing and giving endwise rigidity to the structure when in use. The board is of two sections, and

when in use each section islocked by a. safetybrace fastening with the hinged legs. The legs at the foot of the board are are of unequal length to support the board in an inclined position for embalming the body, whileremovable button-posts ofuncqual length support a canopy in horizontal and symmetrical relation to the inclined board. The board is provided with corner-irons having tapering sockets to receive and hold the removable button-posts in vertical positions, to give the desired symmetrical relation of the canopy to the inclined board. The legs at the head of the board are-the longest, whilevthe button-posts the longest, thus producing an inclined board with foldinglegs and a canopy supported by non-folding button-posts in taper sockets, giving the'canopy the required firmness and allowing of its easy showing the supportfor thchinged legs in their locked and braced relation to-the board, looking from the under side; and Fig. 6, a vertical section of thesame.

The board proper consists of two sections or flames, a a, of equal length, each having side and cross connecting timbers and perforated or cane bottoms. These sections are hinged together, so as to be closed and form an undertakers cabinet, as shown in Fig. 2. The hinges b are preferably placed on the outside of the frame, so as to make an iron bearing for the joined parts when forming the board, and thus prevent wearing of the wood at the abutting ends. The depth of each section or hinged i'rameis from two to three inches, so that when folded the aggregate depth of the inclosed space will be sufllcient to hold the several parts of the structure, including the canopy, the instruments for embalmin g, &c.

' The box is provided with a suitable fastening and a handle, 0, for convenience in carrymg.

The legs dare hinged so as to support the frame when extended, and to fold within the part to which they are separately hinged. In their supporting positions the legs abut against blocks e, glued in the corners of the frames, as shown in Figs. 3, 5, and 6, and they are 0011- nected by rounds (1'. These blocks serve as abutments against which the legs unfold, as shown in Fig. 6, to relieve their hinges f of undue strain and form a back, against which they are pressed and held by automatic locking-braces.

The legs are of unequal length, those at the head being-the longest, so as to give a proper inclination to the board for embahning, such inclination being a necessity for embahning, whether partial or permanent. When unfolded they stand in outward-inclined positions, and are supported by braces 99, hinged to the cross-pieces h h of the board-frames and locking with the rounds of the legs. The locking of these braces is automatic and such as to atford safety against becoming unfastened. A simple and convenient means of forming such safety-fastening is by providing the free ends of the braces g with metal pinsi, formed with a groove, recess, or notch, i, and a thimble or socket, 12, secured in the round d of the legs,

andprovided with a lip or projection, i adapted to be sprung into the groove of said pin,

as shown in Fig. 4. The hin gin g of the braces 5 is such as to allow them to be folded within the frames to which they are separately hinged. As the brace is hinged to the middle of the board and the legs are hinged so as to be folded toward the hinge of the brace, the lockingdevice must be such as to constantly press the legs outward, and for this purpose the recess in the pin t is next the end of the brace and the locking-lip of the socket i is at the outside or next the head and foot of the board, so that in fastening the legs it is only necessary to press the pin ot' the brace into the thimblesocket, and the legs yielding slightly, the recess in the pin is forced over the thimble-lip, and the brace thus sprung into locked position with it, holding the legs firm and secure. In this arrangement of the braces it will be seen they form, with the legs, separate truss-frames to sustain the board at its hinged joining, and were it not for this middle support the board would be unsafe under the weight of the body. In this truss action the corner abutments for the legs and the locking-pins become important factors in sustaining the board.

The elevated section of the board is provided with a hinged head-rest, j, adjustably supported by hinged arms k, and the rest is preferably formed with an opening, as shown in Fig. 1. At the outer corner of each hinged section or frame thejoiningis braced and strengthened by corner-irons i on the outside and the abutment-blocks on the inner side, as shown in Fig. 5. The corner-irons are formed with sockets m, which taper downward and stand vertical, as shown in Fig. 6, and serve to receive posts it for supporting the canopy. These posts are of unequal length, the shortest being at the head of the board, and they are provided with buttons for the attachment of the canopy in horizontal and symmetrical relation to the inclined board. The posts are tapered to fit the corner-sockets, and when inserted therein they are bound tight in vertical positions, and are removed from the sockets in putting up the board, thus affording a firm and convenient attachment for the canopy to an inclined board.

The posts are preferably of walnut, turned,-

and comparativelylight, so as to springsli ghtl y to keep the canopy taut when applied. When the board is put up the posts are placed as pins in the box. a

It is evident that the locking device may be formed with the grooved pin on the round of the legs and the lipped socket secured to the brace.

I claim- 1. The. frames ac, hinged at the under side, the braces g g, hinged on opposite sides of the frame-connecting hinges, and having at their free ends a grooved or recessed pin, ii, and the round of the legs d, having a lipped socket, i i the said braces being adapted to be sprung into said socket over its locking-lip i and to exert thereby a firm upward bracing and supporting action upon the hinged ends of the frames and an outward force upon the legs and their abutments c, all constructed and combined for use substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

2. In combination, the hinged folding sec tions or frames, the hinged legs of unequal length, the hinged braces, and the safety-lock ing device, consisting of a grooved or recessed pin carried by the brace, and a lipped socket in the cross-bar of the legs, adapted to receive said grooved pin and form thereby an auto matic lock for the legs and for the braces when the cmbalming and cooling board is in use, substantially as described.

3. The hinged folding frames 0. a, provided with the corner-abutments c, the legs of unequal length hinged to said frames and supported by said abutments, the braces g, hinged at the joining of said frames, the rounds of said legs provided with lipped sockets e, and the ends of said braces provided with recessed or notched pins 12, constructed and combined for use in a folding cmbalming and cooling board, substantially as described.

4. The hinged folding frames a a, provided with the corner-irons l, formed with vertical tapering sockets an, adapted to receive removable button-posts it, having tapering ends and of unequal length, forming a canopy-support, substantially as described,in combination with. hinged legs of unequal length and the braces for said legs, whereby the canopy is supported in horizontal and symmetrical relation with an inclined board.

5. A cooling-board consisting of the hinged sections a a, provided with hinged legs of unequal length braced from the middleot' said board by automatic locking-braces, g g, the tapering socket corner-irons lm, the cornerabutments e, the ad j ustahle head-rest, and posts it, of unequal length, adapted to form a removable canopy support, the legs having the greatest length supporting the head of the board and the posts having the least length supporting the head of the canopy.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

N. '1. SHAW.

Witnesses:

A. E. H. JoHNsoN, J. W. HAMILTON J on vson. 

